Wayne Hall: Hard-working animals deserve a day, too

Wednesday

Feb 27, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Laid-off auto salesman Fred Mola of Franklin Lakes, N.J., is standing at the Bear Mountain Zoo's rocky bear den and agreeing that bears and other working wildlife in the zoo should get a thumbs-up on Labor Day — maybe a Working Wildlife Labor Day parade led by the United Federation of Zoo Black Bears Local 9W.

Wayne Hall

Laid-off auto salesman Fred Mola of Franklin Lakes, N.J., is standing at the Bear Mountain Zoo's rocky bear den and agreeing that bears and other working wildlife in the zoo should get a thumbs-up on Labor Day — maybe a Working Wildlife Labor Day parade led by the United Federation of Zoo Black Bears Local 9W.

You know, like the parade we working stiffs throw for ourselves.

After all, Labor Day salutes the economic and social contribution of workers.

And the Bear Mountain Zoo's two black bears, brother and sister Pal and Sadie, are hard workers. But like any hard workers, they do occasionally find time to do a little loafing.

If they're not in their concrete pool tossing around orange and blue beach balls, they're hugging each other or chasing the black vultures who try to steal scraps in the bear den.

The bears' really big crowd-pleaser is eating.

Right now they're bulking up for winter, so adoring crowds get to watch three power-packed meals hand-delivered by head keeper Melissa Gillmer and assistant zookeeper Laura Cummins.

"When they come out of the pool, sometimes they'll go on a tear and run around the bear den," says Gillmer.

Sadie likes to stretch herself with paws and legs while holding on to a stick, a pretzel position Gillmer calls "bear yoga."

Pal likes to climb the rocky walls, sit with his legs bent and his paws on his lap like a huge man with a gigantic nose, and look at the crowd looking at him.

Both bears gallop after freeloading black vultures, which always hop just out of paw swipe. Once, a vulture was seen chasing Sadie.

You get the idea. "They put on a show — they're working," says Gillmer, whose staff labors mightily to feed, protect and care for the bears.

"If someone drops something into the den, which they're not supposed to drop anything, the bears are on it," says Gillmer.

Plus, the two bears share a story of illegal captivity. They were illegally raised in South Dakota before being liberated. So they're sort of rescued orphans, which makes them super-close. Just last Wednesday, Pal dropped his massive head on Sadie's back, and the two cuddled.

Plus, they're the icon namesake of the Bear Mountain Zoo, which has brought people like the Molas back "for years," says Fred Mola.

"I mean you try to go to the Bronx Zoo — it can cost you $60 just to go there. Here it's free."

So, if there ever were a wildlife Labor Day parade, Sadie and Pal could lead a very long line of working zoo animals, just ahead of fellow workers the Federation of Zoo Coyotes and the United Tunneling Groundhogs.